Korn Ferry vs Robert Walters:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Robert Walters had more branded searches than Korn Ferry among executive search firms in New Zealand. Robert Walters had about 1,300 branded searches, while Korn Ferry had 590. Robert Walters made up 25.8% of all executive search firm searches we track, and Korn Ferry accounted for 11.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about executive search firms, Korn Ferry and Robert Walters each appeared in two of the three answers. Korn Ferry was mentioned before Robert Walters in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Robert Walters, about 2 searches for every 1 for Korn Ferry
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 3 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Korn Ferry, named ahead of Robert Walters in 2 of 3 answers
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Top executive search firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Korn Ferry and Robert Walters were each mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Korn Ferry was listed before Robert Walters in two out of three answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
JacksonStone & Partners3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Robert Walters2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Korn Ferry2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Kerridge & Partners2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Sheffield2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Johnson Partners2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Farrow Jamieson1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Ichor Leadership Search1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Hobson Leavy0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Inside Recruitment0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about executive search firms
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which executive search firm should I hire in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best executive search firms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best executive search firm in New Zealand for senior leaders?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“director search nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“executive search firms nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Korn Ferry or Robert Walters more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Korn Ferry and Robert Walters by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 executive search firms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Robert Walters, Korn Ferry. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Robert Walters | Korn Ferry | Hobson Leavy | Kerridge & Partners | Inside Recruitment | JacksonStone & Partners | Alexander James | Sheffield | Sprout People | Decipher Group | Farrow Jamieson | Johnson Partners | Ichor Leadership Search |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 26.6% | 8% | 10% | 9.8% | 10% | 9.4% | 7.8% | 4.5% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.5% | 9.1% | 9.4% | 9.1% | 7.4% | 8% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 7.7% | 1.4% | 0.57% |
| Jan 2026 | 24.7% | 7.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 8.2% | 8.9% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.4% | 7.2% | 11% | 10.8% | 9% | 7.3% | 8.6% | 5% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 2% | 0.55% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.2% | 8.9% | 13.4% | 8.9% | 11% | 8.5% | 7.1% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 0.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 28.2% | 8.5% | 10.7% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 9.9% | 6.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 0.35% |
| May 2026 | 27.4% | 8.2% | 8.6% | 8.2% | 10.3% | 9.1% | 6.9% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 5.7% | 2.4% | 0.34% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 8.1% | 10.2% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 11% | 8% | 5.6% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 0.34% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.4% | 10.1% | 8.4% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 13.7% | 9.6% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 0.85% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.7% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 11.4% | 8.9% | 7% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.1% | 8.5% | 10.7% | 8.5% | 10.7% | 11% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 5% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 0.18% |
| Oct 2026 | 25.8% | 11.7% | 9.7% | 9.5% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 0.99% |
How has branded search for Korn Ferry and Robert Walters changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Robert Walters was ahead of Korn Ferry in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Korn Ferry’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand moved from 8% to 11.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 590.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Robert Walters’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand moved from 26.6% to 25.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand executive search firms in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, Korn Ferry overtook JacksonStone & Partners and 3 others to rank 2nd among executive search firms in New Zealand, with 11.7% of the searches.
In October 2026, Robert Walters gained share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 23.1% to 25.8%.
How are Korn Ferry’s and Robert Walters’ branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Korn Ferry’s and Robert Walters’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Korn Ferry
1 branded search term
- korn ferry
Robert Walters
1 branded search term
- Robert Walters
Other head-to-heads among executive search firms
- Robert Walters vs Hobson Leavy: compare popularity
- Robert Walters vs Kerridge & Partners: compare popularity
- Robert Walters vs Inside Recruitment: compare popularity
- Korn Ferry vs Hobson Leavy: compare popularity
- Korn Ferry vs Kerridge & Partners: compare popularity
- Korn Ferry vs Inside Recruitment: compare popularity
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